Brian Camp, IMDb's prime maven on kung fu movies, considers this movie to be "rather routine" as kung fu movies go, but personally I thought it was a lot better than that. The story is much like many others, but with notable variations that make quite a difference. This is one of the last movies of the kung fu genre's only true Grand Old Man, Tak-Hing Kwan, still starring in the role of the character he made famous on film, Wong Fei-Hung. Being in his 70s here, he only has limited screen (and fighting) time, but what little we get is enough to be grateful for.
Wong Fei-Hung is the ultimate Master, as accomplished morally as he is in his fighting skills. In this story, two of his students are sent on an errand to another village to buy herbs (Wong Fei-Hung is also a famous doctor). Now, when this sort of thing happens in most kung fu movies, the students are always hot-tempered and undisciplined and get involved in fighting, despite their master specifically pointing out that they shouldn't. Refreshingly, in this movie the students actually remain as entirely morally upstanding and level-headed as their master for most of the movie - until the temptation to impress some girls overwhelm them (which in different ways is both rather strange and very understandable - I suspect the students are simply being chivalrous). The girls are a couple of sisters who want nothing but revenge on a general who killed various members of their family, and the only way they can get it is by becoming better kung fu fighters than him. So they set in motion complicated plans to acquire the students' secret kicking technique, mainly by putting themselves in a position to watch them fight. When their plans fall apart and the girls tell the students the truth, however, the students opt to help teach the kicking style to them anyway! Seemingly without good reason, but, as I mentioned, it is probably because it was the chivalrous thing to do.
Contrary to the brutality of many kung fu movies, this one makes a point of upholding much of the moral purity of Wong Fei-Hung's legacy. Even when the students start teaching the forbidden kick to the girls, they don't actually teach them all of it, knowing that this would displease their master and his dedication to non-violence. Also, by the time they beat the guy the girls want revenge on, they actually follow Wong Fei-Hung's example and show mercy in the end, letting the bad guy (who's not all that bad) live!
In combination with the fact that the actors and actresses are attractive, the quality and amount of kung fu fighting is impressive throughout, and the story and characterization are good enough to ensure that there's never a dull moment, I don't think it's too much to pronounce this movie a true classic of the kung fu genre! It was certainly better than I had dared hope for.
8 stars out of 10!
Wong Fei-Hung is the ultimate Master, as accomplished morally as he is in his fighting skills. In this story, two of his students are sent on an errand to another village to buy herbs (Wong Fei-Hung is also a famous doctor). Now, when this sort of thing happens in most kung fu movies, the students are always hot-tempered and undisciplined and get involved in fighting, despite their master specifically pointing out that they shouldn't. Refreshingly, in this movie the students actually remain as entirely morally upstanding and level-headed as their master for most of the movie - until the temptation to impress some girls overwhelm them (which in different ways is both rather strange and very understandable - I suspect the students are simply being chivalrous). The girls are a couple of sisters who want nothing but revenge on a general who killed various members of their family, and the only way they can get it is by becoming better kung fu fighters than him. So they set in motion complicated plans to acquire the students' secret kicking technique, mainly by putting themselves in a position to watch them fight. When their plans fall apart and the girls tell the students the truth, however, the students opt to help teach the kicking style to them anyway! Seemingly without good reason, but, as I mentioned, it is probably because it was the chivalrous thing to do.
Contrary to the brutality of many kung fu movies, this one makes a point of upholding much of the moral purity of Wong Fei-Hung's legacy. Even when the students start teaching the forbidden kick to the girls, they don't actually teach them all of it, knowing that this would displease their master and his dedication to non-violence. Also, by the time they beat the guy the girls want revenge on, they actually follow Wong Fei-Hung's example and show mercy in the end, letting the bad guy (who's not all that bad) live!
In combination with the fact that the actors and actresses are attractive, the quality and amount of kung fu fighting is impressive throughout, and the story and characterization are good enough to ensure that there's never a dull moment, I don't think it's too much to pronounce this movie a true classic of the kung fu genre! It was certainly better than I had dared hope for.
8 stars out of 10!